[FEL-L] FW: Thousands of OPEN DEATH WELLS surrounding GIR Forest killing the last Asiatic Lions; Another big cat (wild Asiatic Lioness) meets watery grave

Thu Nov 9 18:42:29 CST 2006

\

----- Subject: Thousands of OPEN DEATH WELLS surrounding GIR Forest killing the last Asiatic Lions; Another big cat (wild Asiatic Lioness) meets watery grave

Re: Thousands of OPEN DEATH WELLS surrounding GIR Forest killing the last Asiatic Lions
**************************** 

LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE NOT hundreds BUT “THOUSANDS (1000s)” of
OPEN WELLS / “DEATH WELLS” IN AND AROUND GIR FOREST that have been regularly killing & swallowing "the last wild Asiatic Lions" and other wildlife and the Government only talks, talks & talks, but does nothing…..
while the world’s last wild purebred population of Asiatic Lions will continue to be killed on a regular basis as has been going on for decades and their precious gene pool will continue to diminish right before our eyes.….

+++++++++++++++++

If the farmers, Gujarat or the Central Indian Government can not fill/cover-up these thousands of "Open wells" / "Death wells" and also provide the much needed subsidized “TUBEWELLS” to the farmers instead and ban any new open wells, then it is time that international funds are raised for this......... also former Asiatic Lion countries ought to be targeted........... but they might have to be jolted out of their indifference and made to realize that these very Asiatic Lions once not so long ago also called their country home.

It is also now high time to shift 2-3 prides of these wild Asiatic Lions to Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary in the neighboring Indian state of Madhya Pradesh (MP) for this reason too amongst several others. This Sanctuary has been chosen scientifically as a former habitat of wild Lions and has been developed as an ideal site for their reintroduction to build the second wild Asiatic Lion population. A forest belt of about 3000 Square Kilometers surrounds this Sanctuary where the future population of these re-introduced Lions can expand into in the centuries to come thus reclaiming some more of their lost territory. 

It is very unfortunate that the Indian state of Gujarat where the last wild Asiatic Lions live have almost declared them a state property and continue to refuse any translocation plan outside of the state in spite of the warnings of wildlife experts to start a second removed population for genetic diversity and guarding them against any epidemics etc. It looks like Gujarat wants to selfishly maintain their state monopoly over all the Tourism revenue these last remaining wild Asiatic Lions of world generate for them. It is high time they educate themselves of the real long term survival needs of their Lions and let go of some happily for reintroduction to Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary in the neighboring Indian state of Madhya Pradesh (MP). Thousands of Asiatic Lions lived in MP for thousands of years along with Tigers till about 150 years ago before they were driven to extinction by Man armed with ever more modern weapons like elsewhere in India, Iran, middle east and Europe.  

atulsinghnischal at yahoo.com

*******************************

DEATH WELLS surrounding GIR Forest killing the last Asiatic Lions left on earth and driving them ever faster to their extinction?

Who will “fill”, “enclose” and “outlaw” the thousands of DEATH WELLS surrounding GIR Forest killing the last Asiatic Lions left on earth and driving them ever faster to their extinction?

Another Wild Asiatic Lion Death by falling into an “open village well” reported, several thousand such hidden wells in the grass and undergrowth dot surrounding terrain around Gir Forest. Who will “fill”, “enclose” and “outlaw” these hundreds of DEATH WELLS surrounding GIR Forest killing the last Asiatic Lions left on earth and driving them ever faster to their extinction? These are death traps for unsuspecting wildlife including the last 300 or so wild Asiatic Lions of the world living only in the Gir forest and the surrounding terrain.

My suggestion is that the government should excavate much needed dry season “saucer shaped water holes” for wildlife all over the Asiatic lion range and the soil excavated from these can be used to fill up ancient unnecessary open wells. Modern Tube wells which pose no threat to wild Asiatic Lions or other Wildlife can be dug for the farmers if needed. 

“Saucer shaped water holes” excavated for wildlife will also serve to conserve rain water from runoff which can slowly seep down to the water table recharging it to the village farmer’s delight and the general health of the ecosystem.

It is simply absurd to tolerate such mortality inflicted upon the very last critically endangered wild population of Asiatic Lions left on earth. “OPEN WELLS Threat” has been well documented now for the past many years; several hundred wild Asiatic Lions have been maimed or killed by falling into them down the decades, its time the Government is pressurized to act. 

The Government should map the position of all such wells in Gir and all surrounding area, specially the Asiatic lion dispersal area outside Gir Forest and straight away fill all deserted / abandoned wells as suggested above and “outlaw all open wells” in the whole region. If farmers intend to keep many of these wells they and the government should construct parapets and cover these wells, the Government should encourage farmers to go for subsidized tube wells instead which are no threat to wildlife. 

atulsinghnischal at yahoo.com

NEWS:

NEWS:
Another big cat meets watery grave 

Sibte Husain Bukhari 
Junagadh, November 1, 2006: Another open well became a watery grave for a big cat in Gir. A 14-year-old lionesss died in Pachpachiya village near Tulshishyam range in Gir east after reportedly falling into a well about 100 feet deep. The time when the animal fell into the well — which did not have a parapet — is yet to be ascertained. The well is located on a farm belonging to one Nathabhai Gohil. Gohil, on noticing the carcass floating in the well on Tuesday, immediately informed forest officials along with the village sarpanch. Range Forest Officer (Tulsishyam) rushed to the spot and got the dead animal fished out. Forest officials are speculating that the animal would have fallen into the well two days ago. 
A panel of doctors at Junagadh’s Sakkarbagh Zoo on Wednesday night carried out a post-mortem on the carcass. When contacted, zoo doctor C N Bhuva said the lioness had died due to drowning. 

When contacted, Deputy Conservator of Forest (Gir east) S P Sisodiya said, “There is no sign of any external injury on the animal’s body. Also, 15 claws were found to be intact. Prima-facie, it is case of an accidental death.” 
Sisodiya has appealed farmers to construct parapets or cover wells without them or fence them to avoid death of lions. 
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=207725 

NEWS:
3,000 open wells around Gir threaten lions

Himanshu Kaushik

[ 5 Nov, 2006; 0137hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]

AHMEDABAD: Over 3,000 open wells in and around Gir sanctuary continue to pose a threat to Asiatic lions. Every year, at least 12 to 15 lions or leopards fall into open wells and on an average, four to five of them die, say forest officials. 

With open wells posing a grave danger, the forest department recently carried out a survey and discovered over 3,000 wells which didn't even have parapets. 

Junagadh collector Ashwini Kumar said, "The collectorate has taken stock of the situation and we are planning to work out a strategy to cover these wells." 

The estimated cost of covering these wells will be around Rs 10,000 per well. Since huge funds are involved, the forest department has already moved a proposal. 

Kumar said that the department can issue a notification asking farmers to cover the wells, but this can't be made compulsory. 

Bharat Pathak, conservator of forests, said, "This is a costly affair.We have covered a large number of wells in western Gir, but many more remain uncovered. We have also undertaken several awareness campaigns in the area and are telling the people that open wells pose a threat, not just to animals, but to human life as well." 

Pathak said that many NGOs have come forward to cover these wells, but the effort put in by them is inadequate as these basic safety measures require huge expenditure. 

According to Pathak, the problem of open wells is difficult to tackle as villagers in this arid zone dig up fresh wells when required and leave these uncovered once the water dries up. 

Former chief conservator of forests, G A Patel, feels that the problem has been persisting for too long and a long term solution has to be found. 

Patel had proposed that for all wells, within a radius of 10 km from the sanctuary, should be compulsorily surrounded by parapets which are at least five feet in height. 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/322815.cms 

NEWS:
Wells turn death traps, foresters helpless

Brahmananda Shasmal
Ahmedabad, November 8, 2006: * NOVEMBER 1:A 14-year-old lionesss died in Pachpachiya village near Tulsishyam range in Gir East after falling into a 100 feet-deep well.
* OCTOBER 30: A lion was found dead in a blind well in Gir sanctuary area.
* OCTOBER 22: A leopard was found dead in a blind well (without parapet walls) near Talda village of Khamba taluka on the outskirts of Gir sanctuary 
These are few of the several incidents where the wild cats of Gir met a watery grave. While the Forest Department is raising a hue and cry about a chinkara being filmed during the shooting of Lagaan eight years ago in Kutch, they are silent about the fact that the wild cats are meeting their death after falling into open wells around the Gir Sanctuary — sole abode of the Asiatic lion. 
‘‘Every year there are at least 15 such deaths,’’ says Amit Jetva, president of Gir Nature Youth Club. ‘‘There are more than 6,000 blind wells within a 6 km-radius of the sanctuary’s borders. The number of wells has gone up in the past couple of years. Saurashtra is an arid zone where farmers dig wells for irrigation purposes. But these are the very areas that fall in the lion’s migration path. So the Forest Department as well as the State Government should take an initiative to protect these wild cats, which are the pride of the State and nation as well,’’ he says. 
Forest officials say lions and leopards usually fall into the blind wells while hunting at night. In pursuit of stray cattle or other prey foraging in the fields or farms on the sanctuary’s periphery, they often fall into these wells and drown before anyone can even spot them. 
As more land comes under cultivation around the Sanctuary, the number of blind wells are rising, posing a threat to wild cats. 
Sadly, except for appealing to the farmers to cover the wells, there is nothing much that the Forest Department can do as their jurisdiction does not cover these revenue areas. 
Pradeep Khanna, Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), says, ‘‘We have left no well uncovered within the sanctuary area. There are over 6,000 wells on the periphery of the sanctuary and these are on private land. In these areas, we are requesting farmers to cover these wells or erect some visible barriers so that wild cats can be prevented from falling into these wells.’’ 
He said, ‘‘It’s not that the Forest Department is doing nothing to save the wild cats. There were several incidents where our staffers had rescued animals from wells.’’ 
“We cannot prevent such deaths as the lion migration area is vast. We can help farmers to construct parapets, cover wells or create visible barriers, but we cannot lend financial assistance to all farmers to construct parapets. There are some motivating NGOs, who have offered to help farmers construct parapets and pile up wooden brush over the well,’’ says Bharat Pathak, conservator of forests, Junagadh, adding, ‘‘If the farmers can dig wells at a cost of Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000, they can afford another Rs 2,000 to construct parapets over the wells.’’ 
When asked about the death of lions, Minister of Forest and Environment Mangubhai Patel says, ‘‘Every state should make provisions for the development of sanctuary area. It is sad that lions are dying in this manner. However, figures also reveal that there has been a rise in the number of lions. Now, there are 359 lions in the sanctuary.’’ 
To prevent such incidents, Jetva has a solution. 
‘‘All it requires is proper legislation. People in lion migration areas must be forbidden to construct wells. There are more than 150 lions in non-protected areas. That lions are dying in this way just shows how careless the authorities are,’’ he says.
http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=208893 

Just 2 Months before

*************************************************************
NEWS:
Lions that fell into well rescued 
(Wild Asiatic Lions at Gir Sanctuary) 
Junagadh, August 23, 2006 By: Sibte Husain Bukhari
Junagadh, August 23: A young lion pair that fell into a 60-ft deep well was rescued successfully and without them suffering any injuries on Wednesday. In a separate incident a lioness that was under treatment at Jasadhar Animal Care Centre, falling under Dhari-range forest headquarter in Gir east forest division, died on Tuesday. The big cat, about 10 years old was under treatment for the past one and a half months. 

Meanwhile in the rescue operation that occurred on Wednesday, forest sources said that a young lion and lioness, aged two and a half and one and a half, reportedly fell into a well located in an agriculture land owned by a farmer identified as Lakhabhai. The incident occurred at around 9 am at Dedans village near Tulsishyam forest range. Lakhabhai immediately informed forest officials about this, who rushed to the spot immediately and started the rescue operation. 

When contacted Deputy Conservator of Forest (Gir east) S P Sisodiya said that lion couple was rescued unhurt and kept under observation. The duo will be released soon in their territory with their group, he said. “The well that had no enclosure was 20 feet in diameter and had water 45 feet below. The rescue operation therefore was highly risky but our rescue team experts managed to save the animals’ lives,” Sisodiya said. Hundreds of wells without boundary walls in Gir area have been posing a huge threat to the wild animals. Forest department has repeatedly appealed to farmers to cover such wells, Sisodiya said. 
About the lioness’ death, Sisodiya said the animal was very ill and under medical treatment. Meanwhile in Khambha taluka’s Badadhar village in Amreli district, a python was found trapped in a well and later rescued while the carcass of a crocodile was found from the riverside located at Raval Dam catchment area near Chikli kuba village. 

http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=198091  
**********************
NEWS:
Male lions rescued from well in Amreli 
VADODARA, [ 24 Aug, 2006 0651hrs IST PTI ]

VADODARA: Two male lions that had fallen into a 50-feet deep well in a village of Amreli district in Saurashtra were rescued on Wednesday, officials said here. 

"After about five hours of successful rescue operation, both these lions were rescued and have been kept in a cage. They are being looked after at present", Gir Forest range officer Bharat Pathak said. 

He, however, said that they were unaware as to how both these lions fell into the well and the matter was being investigated. 

However, wildlife activists from nearby Amreli district said some locals staying in Bedan and surrounding villages had started pelting stones at these wild animals two days ago after hearing their roars late at night. 

The activists said the lions had fallen into the well as it was dark. 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1921310.cms  
************************
----- Forwarded Message ----

From: amit jethwa <amit_jethava at YAHOO.CO.IN>
To: nathistory-india at Princeton.EDU (NATURAL HISTORY & CONSERVATION INDIA, EMAILING LIST)
Sent: Friday, August 25, 2006 5:00:46 AM
Subject: open wells turn death well for Asiatic Lions and other wild animals...

We came to know from farmer of Dedan village of Khambha taluka that lion pair felt in well and live on morning of 23/08/06 . Urgently informed to concern forest officials for resque.

Asistant Consevator of Forest , Gir East Division with concern Range Forest Officer - Tulshishyam reached on spot and saved lion and lioness pair. Officials diclared that both will release in Gir PA within short time.

Lions was aroung 2.5 year and lioness was around 1.5 year old. The well was without of any parapat wall. About 8-10 such incidenced occured during a year and many incidences became hazardous for wild animals. About 10 thousands such well falls in Asiatic Lions corridor area. There should be some legal provisions for open well in Asiatic Lion corridor. Forest Authority should focus on Open Well enclosure in Eco - Development Fund. Approximately 32 crores rupees spent for Gir Eco Development Project but no initiatives were taken for open well.

The Conservator of Gir PA sicked in his seat since last 6.5 year, may be record in India . About 150 lions deaths reported during his tenture. He is totally failed to manage Gir PA properly. Urgent requirement for transfer of Gir PA CF.

amit
Amit B. Jethava
President
Gir Nature Youth Club
Gujarat State
At:Khambha, Di: Amreli
Pin:365650( Gujarat ) India .
Telaphone:02797-260121,260182
Telefax:02797-260182
Mobile :+91 94 269 38812
Email: amitjethava at hotmail.com
amitjethava at rediffmail.com
amit_jethava at yaoo.co.in
*************************************************************

NEWS:
Gir lions on the verge of extinction 
By: Bahar Dutt, CNN-IBN, Posted Tuesday , January 17, 2006 at 19:03
ROARING FOR ATTENTION: The Asiatic lion in India is on the verge of extinction, but it's cry for attention is being ignored. 
*** Watch the Video: ***
http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/3872/gir-lions-on-the-verge-of-extinction.html  
"Here is CNN-IBN's 'post-mortem' report. 

* Uncovered wells are death traps for the lion. Documents are littered with reports of lions claimed by these wells."..... 

(Article continuous......) 

News Source IBNlive:
http://www.ibnlive.com/news/gir-lions-on-the-verge-of-extinction/3872-3-0.html  
*************************************************************

ASIATIC LION – “LINKS” 

*"The Asiatic Lion Information Centre", The home of the European Asiatic Lion Breeding Programme. 

The purpose of the Asiatic Lion Information Centre is to serve as a central point on the Internet for information about Asian lions. Here you will find historical information about the Asian lion, a species account, range maps, and information about the conservation programmes being undertaken to secure the survival of this species of big cat. www.asiatic-lion.org/credits.html; Please remember to also visit the News pages (1997 onwards) 
www.asiatic-lion.org/index.html  

*Gir & Asiatic Lion Protection Society (GALPS) (a group Wildlife enthusiasts) from Gujarat , India 

This site is developed by Gir & Asiatic Lion Protection Society (GALPS) (a group Wildlife enthusiasts) purely with intention of spreading information of Asiatic Lion and Gir. This site is still under development. A whole new concept, new topics, new material, photographs, video clips, sound clips, News Articles etc. will be uploaded by October 2006. If you have any comments or content please write to us at info at asiaticlion.org. 
www.asiaticlion.org/  

*Blog on Latest News articles on Asiatic Lion and Gir by GALPS, Gir & Asiatic Lion Protection Society (GALPS) (a group Wildlife enthusiasts), Blog created by Kishore Kotecha, Rajkot INDIA i.e. one of their founding memebers: 
http://asiatic-lion.blogspot.com/  

*Asiatic Lion Forum of "National Geographic" International 
Forum relating to following Article: "Asia’s Last Lions: National Geographic. Extinction stalks the Asiatic lion, a regal subspecies now crowded into a single sanctuary in India ’s Gir Forest ". 

Aticle and Links: www.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0106/feature3/index.html; http://mesa.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/cgi-bin/forum/forum.cgi?forum=asiatic_lions 

*Asiatic Lion Forum of "Times of India" Newspaper local Gujarat office. 

Should some Gir lions be shifted out of Gujarat ? What is the symbol that represents the pride of Gujarat ? It has to be the majestic lion of Gir - the only natural home the Asiatic lion has in the world. It is not surprising therefore that the Gujarat government is fighting tooth and nail against a move by the Centre to shift some of the lions to a sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. Gujarat is not ready to give up its exclusivity over the animal and has instead suggested that if the lion needs another home outside the congested Gir, then it can be within Gujarat itself. Conservationists are united when it comes to the need to have an alternate home for the lion so that its gene pool can be protected and its population be encouraged to grow again in areas other than Gujarat where it once ruled the forests till it was edged out by the tigers and humans. While some such attempts in the past have failed, others say Gujarat 's pride is not as important as preserving the lion. Should some Gir lions be shifted out of Gujarat ? Robin David, TOI Ahmedabad ( Gujarat ) Bureau. (Atul's Note: To educate yourself on the issue please visit "The Asiatic Lion information Centre" The home of the European Asiatic Lion Breeding Programme and its News pages: www.asiatic-lion.org/index.html 
http://o3.indiatimes.com/mytimes/archive/2006/06/21/835722.aspx  

*IRAN-ZOO Page on Asiatic Lion 

Persian (Asiatic) Lion - Page, (Panthera Leo Persica), Shir (in Persian); Asiatic Lions have been extinct in Iran since 1942 
http://iranzoo.tripod.com/lion/lion.html/  
*Yahoo Group on Asiatic Lions
Help us Save this "Critically Endangered" species, "The Asiatic Lions", from Extinction. Please join us in our efforts to raise the awareness, and spread the news, of CONSERVATION. Help Save the Asiatic Lions. 
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Asiatic_Lions/ 

Click to join Asiatic_Lions 
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.breuckman.com/pipermail/felines-l/attachments/20061109/58adc07e/attachment.html